ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Martin Andersen was searching for a church to join when he came across the website of Experience, a new congregation meeting in town. “There were lots of pictures of happy people, a calendar full of events, cool web features and audio,” he says. “I was impressed.”

But when Andersen visited Experience on Sunday morning, he was surprised to discover “eighteen people gathered in a public school gymnasium.”

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Ever since 81-year-old Mae Hodges bought a used Volvo, “strange-looking people” have been approaching her around town to pay compliments.

“They tell me, ‘Thank you for being a pioneer in our movement,’” Hodges says. “I have no idea what they mean.”

The flow of appreciation began after she started driving the nondescript Volvo wagon, which bears several bumper stickers. One sticker shows a multi-colored flag, another a pink equal sign, both of which Hodges found “very cheery.”

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Sam and Victoria Gutman have always been smart shoppers, but they have gone to another level during the recent recession, buying automobiles, computers and more from distressed owners. “God continues to bless us,” says Sam. “All things really do work for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. We’re living proof.”

Last week they bought a Lexus coupe from a man who lost his job — and pension — when his employer collapsed. “He was weeping when he gave me the keys,” Sam says. “I got that car for a third of what it’s worth. Beautiful leather seats, new tires. God is so good.”

OWATONNA, Minn. — Bill Halberstam, a 33-year-old human resources manager, has been identified by theologians as God’s new favorite person on the planet, the latest in a line that reaches all the way back to John the Beloved.
“The favor of God rests on Bill in a unique way,” says one New...

NASHVILLE — The Christian rap-rock trio DC Talk is re-uniting, much to each member’s chagrin.
“We’re not looking forward to it,” says frontman Toby McKeehan. “We fully expect it to be unpleasant.”
The band split up in 2000 amid disagreements and lifestyle differences. Toby...

DENVER — Connection Metro Church, which used its foyer coffee bars to attract visitors to its eight satellite churches in the Denver area, has decided to abandon ministry altogether to focus on coffee.
“People liked the coffee a lot better than the ministry, according to congregational surveys, so...

CHESTERFIELD — A youth group from a suburban mega-church traveled to inner-city St. Louis for a ministry trip which confirmed their preconceptions about urban poverty.
“It’s even grosser than I thought down here,” said Emma Fahe, 15, after performing in a human video. “I better not get...

VISALIA, Calif. — First Covenant Church unveiled a new mission statement last week, hoping to launch the church into an era of greater unity and spiritual effectiveness.
But response to the two-page statement has been decidedly mixed among church members who despair of memorizing it as the church has...

BIG TIMBER, Mont. — Without their consent or knowledge, a pastor in rural Montana has sold his church and congregation on eBay for $3 million.
“I finally got good and sick of them,” says Tad Marshall, pastor for 15 years who completed the secret sale last week. “This serves them right....